COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2717, 23 December 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christchurch on Thursday, December 21st, were as follows: —Spirits, .£276 Is 9d; tobacco, .£l4l 18s 6d ; wine, .£52 17s 3d; beer. .£8312s 6d; sugar, .£SB 3s 4d; tea, .£l2olßs 4d; goods by weight, .£BS 14s Gd; ad valorem, .£92 4s ; other duties, .£45 3s sd. Total, .£956 13s 7d.

At the usual sitting 1 of the Waste Lands Board, held at Christchurch, on Thursday, December 21st, sales were made as follows :—Ordinary Selwyn, 1180 a Or 5p ; Akaroa, 143 a lr; Geraldine, 10a Or sp. Total acreage sold, 1333 alr lOp. Total cash received, .£2066 13s 6d. Befundson account of former purchases were made in the amount of .£928 3s 6d.

Business during the past week has been Tather limited, and below the standard ■usually experienced at this season, owing -to the cautious desire of buyers not to exceed their purchases beyond the most requirements, as the stringent state of the money market forbids them to liope for any assistance beyond their own present means. An improved enquiry has been noted for bottled ale and stout, stocks being rather light, though slightly augmented by the arrival of the Annie Main from Liverpool ,_ and Hurunui from London, and quotations, though showing no noticeable advance, are firmer than formerly. _ As is usual at this season, wines of most_ kinds have some notice, the light sorts being mostly in favor. Champagne of ■the leading brands has had a little notice, and now secures an advance on previous quotations, which, though somewhat considerable, leaves but little margin to importers. Clarets and limejuice cordial have lately been well in favor. Spirits of all kinds have but little notice. Brandy, both case and bulk, is neglected. Scotch whiskey is in excessive supply, and though forced off at low rates fails to find extensive sales. Sugars, ex recent shipments, continue to be freely quitted at easy rates, finest white crystals having most inquiry. Yellows, on account of high quotations, have only limited sales. Browns are in short supply, and secure good figures. Dried fruits, as is usual at this season, have been freely quitted. Bates continue low for currants and raisins, but of the latter muscatels are very scarce and fetch fancy prices. Tobaccos have only a small business. Advices from America notice that the prospects of the new crop are promising, and quotations consequently easy. Stocks of galvanised iron are heavy, and though offered low have only trifling sales. Kerosone fails to respond to the advance demanded by shippers, and continues obtainable at low rates. Fish of all kinds, except lobsters, are well held at improved quotations. Vinegar, both hulk and case, is in good supply. The competition of sellers is rather keen, quotations therefore are in favour of buyers. Woolpacks are now neglected, the bulk of the demand being over. The shipments of cornsacks just to hand has made quotations rath»r easy. Buyers, however, seem indisposed to operate until their requirements are realised. COMMEKCIAL TELEGEAMS. Wkllington, December 22. Mr James O'Shea reports :—Flour—Adeaide, none; Canterbury, .£lO 15s to .£ll ; Oamaru, .£lO 15s to .£11; sharps, 90s to 100 a ; bran, 80s to 90s ; oats, 3s 3d to 3s 6d; potatoes, 180 s to 200 s ; maize, 4s 3d to 4s (3d; barley, none; hams and bacon, 7d to 8d; salt butter, 7id to 8d ; cheese, 7d to 7id.